Minister of Health engages United Nations on global health

News Release
For Immediate Release

Government of Canada aims to build on international partnerships to improve health worldwide

September 23, 2017               Ottawa                        Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada

Working alongside its fellow member states in the United Nations, Canada can contribute to a shared vision of health for all, built on achievable sustainable development goals where no nation, group or individual gets left behind. 

The Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor concluded her visit to New York City yesterday, where she attended several side-events at the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). In particular, Minister Petitpas Taylor delivered a statement at a panel hosted by Qatar and the United Nations Development Programme on the impact of the sustainable development goals on development cooperation, where she outlined Canada’s efforts to broaden international cooperation on development with the goal of eliminating poverty.

The Minister also participated in two events co-hosted by Canada. The first — organized in partnership with the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Spain, the American University of Beirut and The Lancet —focused on protecting health care workers and facilities from attack in conflict zones. The Minister reiterated Canada’s deep concern regarding the “weaponization of health care” and reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to the implementation of UN Resolution 2286, improving the protection of medical care during conflict. The second event was co-hosted with Barbados on non-communicable diseases (NCDs), where the Minister urged bold and urgent action to counter the global burden of preventable NCDs through the promotion of healthy lifestyles specifically aimed at reducing obesity, which remains one of the strongest risk factors for NCDs through its links to conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and asthma. 

Minister Petitpas Taylor’s also met with Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health Organization and expressed Canada’s congratulations on his recent election and shared Canada’s perspective on a number of global health priorities. She wrapped up her United Nations visit by attending the Annual Ministerial Meeting of the Least Developed Countries to hear an update on the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Minister Petitpas Taylor’s will now travel to Washington, D.C., where she will be joined Dr. Theresa Tam, Chief Public Health Officer of Canada, for three days of meetings with health leaders from the United States and other countries in the Americas. 

Quotes

“It has been an honour and a privilege to participate in these events surrounding the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly. Canada is a proud contributor to the vision and goals of the United Nations, and the meetings and discussions I have had with my international colleagues and counterparts have been informative and productive. Our ongoing partnerships on shared health priorities aim to make the world healthier and safer for everyone.” 

The Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor
Minister of Health

Contacts

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Office of Ginette Petitpas Taylor
Minister of Health
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